CBS Evening News

Syrian refugees suffer as rebel group infighting slows aid

The battle between the two branches of Islam is raging in Syria. Secretary of State John Kerry urged Syrian rebels to join
peace talks next week in Switzerland. But that won't be easy, because various rebel groups fighting to overthrow the Syrian government are also fighting each other.

Mariam Hoja and her children

CBS

On Turkey's border with Syria,
hundreds of trucks are backed up for miles. Heavy clashes between rival Syrian
rebel groups mean much-needed food aid and medical supplies aren't getting to
the people who need them.

Mariam Hoja fled across the border
Thursday with her husband and two children. She told CBS News they came from
their village near Aleppo where the fighting left them under a state of siege
for a week.

“We couldn't even buy food for the
children,” she said.

One of Mariam Hoja's children

CBS

After nearly three years of civil war,
the Syrian opposition to President Assad has fractured. Extremist groups with
links to al Qaeda are now fighting against other rebels, reportedly leaving
hundreds dead.

Just over the Turkish border is a
safe house for rebel fighters. None would show their face for fear of
retribution against family members inside Syria. They're part of the so-called
moderate opposition, backed by the U.S.

Inside a safe house just inside the Turkish border. These men didn't want to identify themselves for fear of retribution.

CBS

But their commander told us that even
now -- when they're fighting both the regime and extremist groups -- America
isn't helping them.

Asked if they’re getting any arms, any
guns at all from the U.S., the commander replied, “No. No…nothing.”

He told CBS News they're relying on homemade
weapons, and have seen thousands of their men defect to better-equipped groups,
including those linked to al Qaeda.

As the civil war grows deadlier -- and
more complicated -- he said he blames America for allowing Islamic militant
groups to get the upper hand.

“The children in Syria (they're) killing, the
woman in Syria (they're) killing,” he said. “No problem. For the U.S., no problem.”

With less than a week until peace talks are due to begin in Geneva, the Syrian opposition is in disarray, and this infighting is strengthening the position of the Syrian regime.